Brief Background
Education
Teaching Certifications
Professional Memberships
Editor
I have edited book manuscripts, curriculum, and book proposals (of various genres and types, including textbooks) for Paradigm Publishing (a division of EMC Publishing, LLC); Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.; organizations, such as Massachusetts General Hospital; and individuals, such as bestselling author Jenni Schaefer, author of Life Without Ed. I have also edited 300+ health articles for Healthline.com; 175+ online courses for the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD); and numerous other pieces for individual clients. I served on the staff of three literary magazines, including Ecotone (now a national publication a decade strong, its contributors featured in The Best American, The Pushcart Prize, and The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories collections) and the trilingual El Protagonista in Puerto Rico. I am comfortable working within all types of style guidelines, especially Chicago and AP.
Recent Interview: "Interview with Writer and Freelance Editor, Andrea Barilla"
Writer
I have written for magazines, newspapers, the Web, individuals, businesses, and nonprofits. (See Writing Samples page.) I also wrote a memoir, ghostwrote a business book (Book Your Chair Solid: 150+ Tips to Grow Your Business), and am submitting agent proposals for a faith-based memoir. I have additional experience in book proposal writing, agent query letters, blogging and social media promotions, and book reviews—I wrote 95+ for a parenting magazine over a 4-year span. I also served on the devotional writing team for a large church.
Specialty Genres: Memoir, Biography, Profile, Business, Self-Improvement, Spiritual, Inspirational, Health and Wellness, Book Review, Essay
Instructor
I have taught college, graduate-level, and community writing courses, both on campus and online (including a hybrid course).
Panels and Conferences
Panelist: 2020 Secluded: A Virtual Writing Conference (Panel Talk: "Out Here, Deliberately: Career Options for MFA Graduates"); Westminster College, 2017 Professional Networking Symposium
Bookseller
Working for Barnes & Noble Booksellers for 7+ years taught me how to keep current with book- and magazine-publishing trends, titles, and sales strategies. As children's department manager, I helped plan and implement book fairs, educational events, and author signings with writers such as Audrey Penn, author of The Kissing Hand.
Education
- MFA in creative nonfiction writing, secondary genre in fiction, University of North Carolina Wilmington
- BA in English, secondary education certification, Westminster College, PA
Teaching Certifications
- Pennsylvania Secondary Teaching Certification, English (Grades 7–12)
- North Carolina Middle Grades Language Arts (Grades 6–9) and English (Grades 9–12)
Professional Memberships
- Editorial Freelancers Association
- Publishers Marketplace
- Freelancers Union
- Binders
- Founding member of Port City Young Professionals (PCYP)
Editor
I have edited book manuscripts, curriculum, and book proposals (of various genres and types, including textbooks) for Paradigm Publishing (a division of EMC Publishing, LLC); Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.; organizations, such as Massachusetts General Hospital; and individuals, such as bestselling author Jenni Schaefer, author of Life Without Ed. I have also edited 300+ health articles for Healthline.com; 175+ online courses for the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD); and numerous other pieces for individual clients. I served on the staff of three literary magazines, including Ecotone (now a national publication a decade strong, its contributors featured in The Best American, The Pushcart Prize, and The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories collections) and the trilingual El Protagonista in Puerto Rico. I am comfortable working within all types of style guidelines, especially Chicago and AP.
Recent Interview: "Interview with Writer and Freelance Editor, Andrea Barilla"
Writer
I have written for magazines, newspapers, the Web, individuals, businesses, and nonprofits. (See Writing Samples page.) I also wrote a memoir, ghostwrote a business book (Book Your Chair Solid: 150+ Tips to Grow Your Business), and am submitting agent proposals for a faith-based memoir. I have additional experience in book proposal writing, agent query letters, blogging and social media promotions, and book reviews—I wrote 95+ for a parenting magazine over a 4-year span. I also served on the devotional writing team for a large church.
Specialty Genres: Memoir, Biography, Profile, Business, Self-Improvement, Spiritual, Inspirational, Health and Wellness, Book Review, Essay
Instructor
I have taught college, graduate-level, and community writing courses, both on campus and online (including a hybrid course).
Panels and Conferences
Panelist: 2020 Secluded: A Virtual Writing Conference (Panel Talk: "Out Here, Deliberately: Career Options for MFA Graduates"); Westminster College, 2017 Professional Networking Symposium
Bookseller
Working for Barnes & Noble Booksellers for 7+ years taught me how to keep current with book- and magazine-publishing trends, titles, and sales strategies. As children's department manager, I helped plan and implement book fairs, educational events, and author signings with writers such as Audrey Penn, author of The Kissing Hand.
"In more than 30 years of mentoring talented writers, I've rarely come across one
with that rare combination of reportorial, literary, and editorial skills that Andrea has."
-Philip Gerard, author of Creative Nonfiction: Researching and Crafting Stories of Real Life
with that rare combination of reportorial, literary, and editorial skills that Andrea has."
-Philip Gerard, author of Creative Nonfiction: Researching and Crafting Stories of Real Life